Improved Hair Accessory

ABSTRACT

An improved decorative hair accessory that comprises a bow or ribbon, an accessory cord that is fixed to the bow or ribbon with the cord being slidably connected with a sleeve. An elastic band is threaded through the sleeve and provides a loop through which the user may twist, as necessary, and pull the user&#39;s ponytail through the loop to secure the entire decorative hair accessory to the user&#39;s ponytail. The exposed band can be twisted as much as desired by the user. The length of hair can then optionally be inserted through the fabric opening. After repeated usage, the user can use a new elastic band without having to discard the hair accessory due to the loss of elasticity or breakage of the band.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to an improved decorative ponytail holder and method for securing the hair of a user in a relatively tight and secure manner.

2. Description of Related Art

Elastic ponytail ties are an effective means to secure hair in ponytails or pigtails. Similarly, ponytail holders with elastic bands and surrounding decorative fabric or ribbons, sometimes referred to as “scrunchies”, are often used to keep one's hair neat and out of the way while simultaneously providing fashion to one's overall appearance.

A traditional scrunchie or elastic-only ponytail tie can be placed on a ponytail by pulling the ponytail through the scrunchie, twisting the scrunchie into a “figure 8” and then pulling the ponytail through the newly created opening or opposite end of the figure 8. This process can be repeated until the ponytail is securely fastened. Scrunchies and elastic ponytail bands, however, have a tendency to become loose and slide out of the hair. Such undesirable movement can become more pronounced if a person is playing a sport, such as tennis or soccer, where rapid movement of the head in different directions can cause the scrunchie to loosen. Moreover, repeated uses of the ponytail band can eventually lead to the elastic band breaking, thereby rendering the band and entire decorative hair accessory useless. As a result, the entire accessory must be discarded and a new one purchased. Consequently, a need exists for a decorative hair accessory that can be reused indefinitely by replacing the elastic ponytail band. Further, a need exists for an improved hair accessory with a replaceable elastic ponytail band which will not compromise the decorative and functional qualities of the decorative hair accessory when a new elastic ponytail band is utilized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, an improved decorative hair accessory comprises a bow or ribbon, an accessory cord that is fixed to the bow or ribbon with a sleeve being slidably connected to the accessory cord. An elastic ponytail band is threaded through the sleeve and provides a loop through which the user may twist, as necessary, and pull the user's ponytail through the loop to secure the entire decorative hair accessory to the user's ponytail. The exposed band can be twisted as much as desired by the user. The length of hair can then optionally be inserted through the fabric opening. After repeated usage, the user can use a new elastic ponytail band without having to discard the hair accessory due to the loss of elasticity or breakage of the ponytail band. The above as well as additional features and advantages will become apparent in the following written detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the hair accessory of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the hair accessory in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates the attachment cords and components in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates how the hair accessory invention is attached to a ponytail in accordance with the present invention; and,

FIG. 5 illustrates the hair accessory depicted in FIG. 1 in place on a ponytail in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the hair accessory of the present invention. The hair accessory or ponytail holder 10 comprises a decorative accessory, such as a bow or ribbon 12, which is secured to slidable sleeve 16 comprising a length of plastic, wooden, glass, polymer or metallic material, with sufficient strength to withstand typical stresses exerted by the decorative hair assembly while being worn by a user. Slidable sleeve 16 is secured to bow or ribbon 12 by sewing, adhesive or any method of attaching same as known in the art, with a portion of sleeve 16 positioned so as to allow passage of an elastic pony tail band 18 between sleeve 16 and the ribbon or bow 12 as shown. An elastic pony tail band 18 is slipped between sleeve 16 and ribbon or bow 12 and drawn back through the looped portion of band 18 so as to secure band 18 to ribbon or bow 12 as shown. In the event band 18 breaks or fails after repeated uses or due to fatigue, the user may simply remove the broken band 18 and replace it with a new elastic pony tail band in the manner described herein so that the decorative hair accessory may again be utilized.

FIG. 2 depicts an alternative embodiment of the decorative hair accessory set forth herein. In this embodiment, decorative hair accessory 10 comprises a decorative accessory, such as bow or ribbon 12, an accessory cord 14 comprising a length of elastic material which is securably attached to bow or ribbon 12, with a portion of accessory cord 14 hidden and attached within the bow or ribbon 12 as shown in phantom. Accessory cord 14 may be attached to bow or ribbon 12 by sewing, adhesives or by any other attachment means as known in the art. The remaining portion of accessory cord 14 creates a loop in which a slidable sleeve 16 is affixed. Slidable sleeve 16 may be comprised of metal, plastic, wood, glass or polymer materials sufficient to provide a sturdy anchor point to secure the hair accessory 10 to elastic pony tail band 18. A portion of elastic pony tail band 18 is inserted through the sleeve 16 and drawn back through the remaining loop of band 18 so as to secure band 18 to bow or ribbon 12 as shown. In the event band 18 breaks or fails, the user may simply remove the broken band 18 with a new elastic pony tail band in the manner described herein so that the decorative hair accessory may again be utilized.

FIG. 3 depicts the components of the improved hair accessory shown in FIG. 4. An accessory cord 14 comprising a length of elastic material is shown with a preformed slidable sleeve 16 slidably attached around cord 14. Accessory cord 14 is then securely attached to the hair accessory as previously discussed herein. Slidable sleeve 16 may be constructed from metal, glass, wood, plastics or other known polymer materials as known in the art which exhibits sufficient strength to withstand typical stresses exerted by the decorative hair assembly while being worn by a user. In a preferred embodiment, sleeve 16 is between a ¼″ to ½″ in length and an ⅛″ to ½″ in diameter. An elastic pony tail band 18 is shown with the knot inserted through slidable sleeve 16 as shown. In this embodiment, when the band 18 has broken, the user may obtain a brand new elastic pony tail band 18, insert one looped end through slidable sleeve 16, and then take the looped ends of band 18 and twist them so as to provide a secure attachment between the user's pony tail and the hair accessory as shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 4, sleeve 16 is securably attached to bow or ribbon 12 within a folded portion of bow or ribbon 12 with an adhesive, an accessory cord or any other attachment means as known in the art. When the elastic pony tail band breaks and renders use of the accessory impossible, the user may simply insert one of the terminal ends of the broken band 18 into and through the sleeve 16, and then tie a knot with the two terminal ends of the broken band 18 to secure the band 18 to slidable sleeve 16. The knotted portion of band 18 may then be placed inside the sleeve 16 thereby hiding the knot from view and also providing a protective enclosure to protect the knotted portion of band 18 from unraveling while the user is wearing the decorative hair accessory. This results in the ponytail band 18 being detachably secured to the decorative hair accessory assembly 10 and allows the user to continue wearing the decorative hair accessory without the need of an additional elastic pony tail band. Alternatively, if a new elastic pony tail band is available, the user may discard the broken elastic pony tail band and utilize a new elastic pony tail by looping the new elastic band 18 and partially inserting one of the looped ends of band 18 through sleeve 16 thereby producing two loops through with a ponytail may be inserted as shown in FIG. 3. A ponytail can then inserted through the protruding looped elastic band 18 as shown in FIG. 4 or through both loops shown in FIG. 3. One can easily perform the twisting with one hand holding the band 18 and the other hand holding the user's ponytail. The user then simply grabs the ponytail and pulls it through the loop or loops formed by band 18 to securely hold the user's ponytail and to securably attach the hair accessory to the user's pony tail. The grabbing, loop forming, and insertion steps are repeated as desired or until a secure fit has been achieved to the user's ponytail resulting in the user's ponytail being secured and the decorative hair accessory being secured to the user's ponytail.

One advantage of the present invention is that the sleeve 16 provides a protective housing for the portion of band 18 that is subject to stress produced by the user wearing the accessory 12. Likewise, a distinct advantage of the present invention is that sleeve 16 provides a reusable connection point for band 18 in case band 18 is broken or loses elasticity over repeated wearing of the hair accessory assembly. The user has the option of replacing band 18 with an entirely new elastic band at anytime or, alternatively, if the band 18 breaks the user may simply take the broken band, insert it through the sleeve and form a new loop by tying a knot in the band 18. The user may then position the band with the knot secured in the sleeve 16 and reattach the hair accessory assembly to the user's ponytail or, alternatively, insert the pony tail through both loops of the band 18 to secure the hair accessory to the user's pony tail.

FIG. 5 illustrates the hair accessory depicted in FIG. 4 in place on a ponytail in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the length of hair or ponytail is disposed through the opening of band 18. As shown in FIG. 4, because the accessory cord 14 is typically between ⅛″-½″ in length, it remains somewhat, if not completely, obscured from view along with sleeve 16 shown in phantom. As such, a spectator would typically only see the ribbon or bow 12 and, if up close enough to the user, the band 18.

The instant invention provides several advantages over the prior art. First, it provides a way to replace the elastic pony tail band cord that secures the decorative hair accessory to the user's ponytail. As a result, the user does not have to dispose of the hair accessory if the elastic pony tail band loses its elasticity or breaks. A new band or length of elastic cord may be attached to the sleeve and hair accessory may then be reused. Alternatively, the user may reuse the broken band by simply knotting it. The Slidable sleeve provides a protective enclosure which protects the elastic ponytail band, and knotted portion thereof, from the stresses of use by the user and from sight by spectators.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A reusable decorative hair accessory for securely holding the hair of a user comprising: a decorative accessory with an elastic accessory band secured thereto; a sleeve slidably secured to the accessory band, wherein a portion of an elastic ponytail band is inserted into the sleeve and forming at least one loop to provide a ponytail holder which secures the decorative hair accessory to the user's ponytail.
 2. The hair accessory of claim 1 wherein said decorative accessory comprises a fabric bow.
 3. The hair accessory of claim 1 wherein said decorative accessory comprises at least one fabric ribbon.
 4. The hair accessory of claim 1 wherein the sleeve is made of flexible plastic.
 5. The hair accessory of claim 1 wherein the sleeve is made of wood.
 6. The hair accessory of claim 1 wherein the sleeve is made of metal.
 7. The hair accessory of claim 1 wherein the sleeve is made of glass.
 8. A method of reusing a decorative hair accessory comprising: removing the broken elastic pony tail band from the slidable sleeve; inserting a free end of an elastic pony tail band through a slidable sleeve and knotting the free ends of said elastic pony tail; and, securing the knotted portion of the elastic pony tail band within the slidable sleeve.
 9. The method of claim 8 further comprising: inserting a pony tail through the elastic pony tail; and, securing the decorative hair accessory to the pony tail.
 10. A method for securing a decorative hair accessory to a ponytail, said method comprising the steps of: a) joining a decorative accessory to an accessory cord with a sleeve slidably secured to said accessory cord; b) inserting an elastic ponytail band through the sleeve; c) threading one end of the ponytail band through the opposite protruding end of the ponytail band and forming one ponytail loop; and, d) inserting a ponytail through the ponytail loop. 